A Language of Dragons

An interesting debut fantasy novel, which strong YA vibes. Our main character is someone who has experienced early hardship, with many flaws that a teenager/young adult would experience, providing strong character development as she tries to find herself in the midst of everything that has happened and has yet to happen.

The world building is immense, with a well-thought-out class system and politics. Somehow, the co-existence of dragons and humans is completely well written, despite it being loosely based upon the 1920s. The more I delved into this delicately concocted world, I was drawn more and more into its darkest, deepest depths, where nothing is what it ever seems on the surface. It gave me vibes reminiscent of Babel or Blood Over Bright Haven, where a simple basic thing can connect to so many more matters without people realising.

A very interesting piece of work, I look forward to further pieces by S. F. Williamson.

A Language of Dragons' gives us Hunger Games vibes in a post-WWI world where dragons speak human tongues. The dystopian setting hits familiar YA notes, but offers enough novelty to stay interesting.

The protagonist is divisive – teacher's pet smart and ambitious, but with enough depth to make her compelling, unlike the supporting cast which are two-dimensional.

The book's biggest flaw? Despite promising an epic civil war between dragon-human factions, we mostly get stuck in a house with teenagers learning about the conflict through radio broadcasts.

“Peace isn't peace if it's only given to some.”

Vivien Featherswallow is living in Post-WW1 Britannia - but in this reality, dragons are abundant. Being a Second-Class citizen, she has done everything to not drop down to Third Class, even things she cannot ever forgive herself for. After the perfect life she has worked so hard for falls apart, she is given a chance to redeem herself and save her family - by becoming a Codebreaker that can decipher the imperceptible language of dragons.

A Language of Dragons is a story about classism, equality, and about the power of language. It's about learning to forgive yourself, repentance, and responsibility. Set in a Britannia with dragons, the worldbuiliding is decently interesting. I did feel like we didn't learn much about the dragons - they were mostly just kind of there. Nothing a sequel cannot fix, and with that ending... The book definitely needs one!